Menopause occurs when a woman stops having her menstrual period and reaches the end of her reproductive years. The process is gradual and caused by dropping estrogen levels. As a woman approaches menopause, her ovaries begin to produce less estrogen and she releases fewer viable eggs.
Once a woman has gone 12 months without a period, she has officially reached menopause. At this point, her ovaries will have released their last viable eggs, but they are not completely empty. After menopause:
- Women still have immature eggs present in the ovaries. These eggs will never mature or be released.
- The ovaries reduce in size over time but are still present and contain tissue.
- Many women still produce a small amount of hormones, including estrogen, after menopause. But not enough to stimulate ovulation or menstruation.
What causes the changes leading to menopause?
- As a woman ages, her ovaries contain fewer egg follicles capable of developing and being released.
- The declining supply of viable eggs results in lower hormone levels, including estrogen and progesterone. This triggers the changes of menopause and eventual end of the menstrual cycle.
What happens to ovulation and menstruation?
- Ovulation stops occurring as viable eggs become depleted. Without ovulation, there is no egg release.
- Without the spikes in hormones from monthly ovulation, estrogen and progesterone levels remain constantly low rather than fluctuating.
- Menstruation ceases once hormone levels are too low to build up the uterine lining. At this point the woman has gone through menopause.
When does fertility end relative to menses?
- A woman's fertility declines for several years leading up to her final period.
- Fertility ends roughly 2-8 years before her ovaries cease ovulation and menstruation stops completely at menopause.
- Most women experience irregular cycles and changes in flow as they approach menopause. This signals the ovaries are producing fewer viable eggs.
Key Takeaways
- At menopause a woman stops releasing eggs and menstruating as her viable egg supply is depleted
- The ovaries do still contain eggs after menopause, but they will never mature
- Hormone levels drop but small amounts continue to be produced after menopause
- Changes in cycles and fertility occur for years before the final menstrual period
I hope this overview on the changes has been helpful! Please let me know if you have any other questions.
